Listening Walk

Out in the green pastures, 

Set in for a listening walk 

Not of humans, machines 

But of nature's pep talks. 

 Soft rustling of the leaves, 

Whistles,chimes of winds, 

Hummings of busy bees, 

Tweets, Chirpings of birds.

'Squeak' of little squirrels, 

'Squawk' of pretty parrots, 

'Maa' of cows, 'Baa' of goats,

 'Caw' of crows, 'Coo' of pigeons.

Choir of nature chilled my ears,

Cheered my mind, heart and soul

Fuelled with sound energy 

Walked back to the machine life. 

 Paulraj Samuel

Nature

Love Nature

Yummy Palm Fruit

Roasting the Palm fruits at my friend Vasan Isaac's Estate at East Tambaram.  

The fragrant smell took me back to 50 years when we use to roast/boil palm fruits at our home. 

There is no word to describe the taste of this fruit - yummy and delicious. If you have not tasted this nature's gift, this is the season you can get one. 

My Travelogue -1 A nightmarish experience of my first Suburban Train travel in Chennai

Just after my graduation, I visited Chennai for the first time in the year 1977 to appear for the Income Tax Inspectors (UPSC) written Test at MCC School, Chetpet.

I reached a day before and stayed with my classmate, who was doing M. Com. at Loyola College.    With a great expectation to become an Income Tax Inspector, I had little time to enjoy the new environment and beauty of the Loyola College campus.

Next day morning, I stepped into the Nungambakkam Railway Station to take the suburban train to Chetpet.  I was a little bit nervous as the station was very crowded.   The electric train zoomed into the platform and all the passengers rushed to get into the jam-packed compartments. But I happily got into a compartment which was not so crowded. I felt I was so smart and lucky to get a seat. 

When the train reached the Chetpet station, I got down from the train and was wondering which side I need to proceed. Suddenly, one man put his hand on my shoulder; I thought God had sent an angel to guide me to the right direction. I innocently looked at him and asked him which side I should proceed to MCC School.  

Instead of guiding me, he asked me to show my train ticket, only then I realized that he was a Ticket Collector.  I showed my train ticket innocently.  He took me to the Station Master and asked me to pay a hefty fine for travelling in a First Class Compartment. My entire body started trembling and with tears pleaded my ignorance and allow  me to attend the UPSC Exam. I never knew about the First Class compartment as it was my first travel in a suburban electric train.

My tears did not reach his ears and my cry did not touch his heart.  He started behaving rudely and checked my pockets and could not find the penalty amount . He took hold of my Hall ticket and asked me to go to my friend and bring the balance cash.  With a confused state of mind, I rushed to Loyola College and  my friend came with me to the Station and paid the penalty.  My friend comforted me and came up to my Examination Hall and left.  What a true friend I had – unfortunately he is no more now.

My mind didn’t work and I could not attempt to write the exam, after an hour I gave back the answer sheet to the invigilator. My expectation of becoming IT Inspector faded away.

Though I was at fault, I felt the concerned authorities should have had the mind to differentiate between the innocent/ignorant and wilful defaulters before passing penalties. 

                                                              Paulraj Samuel

New way of generating funds for the Government ??

New way of generating funds for the Government ??

Learn from newspapers that Corporation/Municipal Authorities are inspecting individual houses to check cleanliness and levying fine if any deviations found to the standard they have fixed. This is being done to avoid spreading of Dengu as per the Officials.

I wonder if this is the new trend of generating funds for the Government?

1.Is there any previous notice given to the Public regarding this inspection, if so, is there any standard set and informed to the residents?

2.Why can't the remedial measures be taught to the Residents instead of levying fine? Is this the solution? First educate them and then fine them if they deviate.

3.Who is to be fined for open drainages, not clearing the garbages daily, potholes etc though the public is paying for all these facilities?

Ultimately the innocent people are forced to shell out money in different forms with innovative methods.

Paulraj Samuel

Tamil Nadu is far better than other States

I am perturbed to hear some politicians again and again saying in different TV debates that Tamil Nadu has not grown during the last 50 years.

Education - TN has large number of medical and engineering colleges where neighbouring states students come and join in large numbers.  Even Arts colleges like MCC, WCC attracts large number of neighbouring and foreign  students.

Dr. Abdul Kalam,
Mr. Mylswamy Annadurai (list is big) are witness to the standard of education in TN.

Hospital services - Large number of patients from all over India and even from abroad are coming to hospitals like CMC, Apollo, MIOT, SIMS, etc for treatment.

Employment - Many multinational companies have put up their factories in TN and provides employment not only to TN people but also many from other States.

Many entrepreneurs from other States have also started factories/ business and flourishing.

Apart from these TN provides employment to many labourers from North, East and Western parts of India.

Infrastructure - TN though not upto the mark but far far better than States in North and East.

In many more areas, TN is far far better than other States.

Still why some politicians make a loud noise and say TN has not grown.

May be they have not grown over the last 50 years that's why they are crying, trying to fish in troubled waters.

Paulraj Samuel